I first saw the canals near Amsterdam Centraal.
Same area where my hostel was.
I arrived in the afternoon.
No expectations, no build-up.
Just walking.
Then you see it.
Water cutting through the city.
Houses standing along the edges.
Leaning slightly, like they’ve been there for too long.
The houses stood out the most.
Yung naka-line sila, narrow, almost identical but still different.
Parang naka-display.
Boats passing slowly.
Reflections moving with the water.
Everything felt steady.
The feeling was hard to explain.
Surreal, but calm.
Hindi overwhelming.
Just quiet appreciation.
You don’t stop everything.
You just slow down a bit.
Look around.
Then continue walking.
That first moment didn’t feel like a “wow” in a loud way.
It felt like a quiet realization.
Na okay, this is actually real.
